Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.
Today’s content
National Party Covid-19 patient privacy leak
Claire Trevett (Herald): The harm for Todd Muller in Hamish Walker’s Icarus moment (paywalled)
Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): A swift end for Walker, prolonged pain for National
Cat MacLennan (RNZ): National’s attacks not what we need right now
Richard Harman (Politik): How Walker was persuaded to resign
Pattrick Smellie (BusinessDesk): Does Hamish Walker understand what’s happening here? (paywalled)
Chris Trotter (Daily Blog): Are Walker and Boag National’s (and the Media’s) Designated Villains?
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): Todd Muller couldn’t challenge Government on isolation escapee because of National MP’s privacy breach – political scientist
Stuff Editorial: The Covid-19 leak exposes National’s lack of discipline
Herald Editorial: National MP Hamish Walker’s resignation symptomatic of a party on the run (paywalled)
Southland Times Editorial: Hamish Walker a mover-and-shaker who proved unsteady
ODT Editorial: Unconscionable and from within
1News: Law broken when private Covid-19 patient information was leaked, says legal expert
Alexander Gillespie (The Conversation): The National Party COVID-19 leak shows why the law must change to protect New Zealand citizens
Mike Houlahan (ODT): So much promise from a passionate southern MP
Ian Powell: Sinister Health Politics drop National in the Bo[a]g
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Amelia Wade (Herald): Leaker Hamish Walker attempted to prevent National leader Todd Muller from outing him citing privacy
Amelia Wade (Herald): Behind the Covid leak: How the downfall of Hamish Walker unfolded
Henry Cooke (Stuff): How the Hamish Walker Covid-19 leak saga played out
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): A timeline of the saga, according to National leader Todd Muller
Mei Heron (1News): Privacy boss says it’s ‘unforgiveable’ National MP and ex-party president leaked details of Covid-19 patients
1News: Leaking Covid-19 patient details ‘backfired terribly’ for National MP Hamish Walker – commentator
Duncan Garner (Newshub): National MP Hamish Walker leaking COVID-19 patient details ‘indefensible’
Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): Sir Bob Harvey says Hamish Walker’s actions have ‘guaranteed a Labour victory’
Zane Small (Newshub): Todd Muller rejects National Party dirty politics claims after MP Hamish Walker steps down over privacy breach
1News: Using private details for political gain ‘never acceptable’ – PM on Covid-19 patient info leak
Newstalk ZB: ‘Others’ fingerprints all over this’: Police Minister on Nats’ Covid privacy breach
David Farrar: Walker resigns candidacy
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Michael Fallow (Stuff): Another MP flames out. What gives with National’s famed Clutha-Southland stronghold?
1News: National face scramble to find candidate for ‘poisoned chalice’ seat: 1 NEWS political reporter
Evan Harding and Damian Rowe (Stuff): Hamish Walker makes right decision to leave politics: Southland leaders
Charlotte Graham -McLay (Guardian): New Zealand opposition MP who leaked details of Covid-19 patients steps down
1News: National MP Hamish Walker says he won’t run again following leaked Covid-19 patient info controversy
Henry Cooke (Stuff): National MP Hamish Walker to step down at election over leak saga
Mike Houlahan (ODT: Walker quits before pushed
RNZ: MP Hamish Walker announces he won’t stand for re-election
Zane Small (Newshub): MP Hamish Walker steps down as National Party’s Southland candidate over COVID-19 patient data breach
Pattrick Smellie (BusinessDesk): Gone at lunchtime: disgraced National MP Hamish Walker resigns from politics (paywalled)
RNZ: Hamish Walker’s exit from politics ‘was the only option’ – Todd Muller
Amelia Wade (Herald): Todd Muller: ‘Hamish Walker went behind my back’ and his only option was to resign
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Katie Scotcher (RNZ): MOH won’t say if Michelle Boag’s Covid-19 patient detail source claims true
Thomas Manch (Stuff): Michelle Boag: The Ministry of Health sent me the Covid-19 patient details
Chelsea Boyle (Herald): Michelle Boag says Ministry of Health sent her patient details
Katie Scotcher (RNZ): Covid-19 privacy breach info came from Health Ministry, Michelle Boag says
Vita Molyneux (Newshub): Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust says Michelle Boag ‘never’ had access to COVID-19 data
Maiki Sherman (1News):Leak fallout puts pressure on National as Michelle Boag says Ministry of Health sent her patient details
Thomas Coughlan and George Block (Stuff): Michelle Boag resigns from roles with Nikki Kaye, refuses to comment on leak
Jo Moir and Charlie Dreaver (RNZ): Michelle Boag stands down from roles with National deputy leader Nikki Kaye
Jessica Roden (1News): Michelle Boag stands down from National Party roles following Covid-19 patient info leak
Jenna Lynch and Zane Small (Newshub): Michelle Boag stands down from Auckland Central MP Nikki Kaye’s campaign committee
Herald: Michelle Boag: Yes, that really happened
Madison Reidy (Newshub): Former National president Michelle Boag’s history with privacy scandals
Sam Brookes (Spinoff): The insider: Three decades of amazing Michelle Boag headlines
National Party
Toby Manhire (Spinoff): The two-step plan to becoming as happy as Simon Bridges
Newshub: Where is Simon Bridges?
Anna Leask (Herald): National Party donations: MP Jami-Lee Ross back in High Court on SFO charges
Emma Cropper and Ireland Hendry-Tennent (Newshub): Jami-Lee Ross’ trial date set over National Party donations
Catrin Owen (Stuff): Former National MP Jami-Lee Ross’ fraud charges move to High Court
Anneke Smith (RNZ): Jami-Lee Ross appears in court ahead of electoral fraud trial
Border quarantine facilities
Jordan Bond (RNZ): Man who witnessed Covid-19 escapee leaving: ‘We just saw this guy walk out’
Newstalk ZB: Expert says more security needed at isolation facilities
Luke Malpass (Stuff): How isolation breach trumps National’s privacy botchup
Derek Cheng (Herald): Another breach; a blot on the Govt’s record and a reprieve for National (paywalled)
Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): How do we still have mistakes at isolation facilities?
Barry Soper (Newstalk ZB): Latest hotel escaper case rings alarm bells over quarantine system
1News: Todd Muller says Government’s ‘everyday glitches’ putting recovery back after Auckland isolation breaches
1News: Livid Health Minister lambasts ‘acts of selfishness’ as man with Covid-19 escapes isolation in Auckland
Zane Small (Newshub): Health Minister Chris Hipkins blasts ‘acts of selfishness’ of two quarantine rule-breakers who ‘let everybody else down’
RNZ: Megan Woods on Covid-19 escape: ‘Things have changed in terms of non-compliance’
Collette Devlin (Stuff): Government considers asking police to guard quarantine facilities to prevent people escaping
Lincoln Tan (Herald): Quarantine security to be reviewed after man with virus escaped and visited supermarket
Justin Giovannetti (Spinoff): Selfies, razors, and a missing 40 minutes: What did the Covid-positive absconder get up to?
Matt Burrows (Newshub): Mystery surrounds hour New Zealand COVID-19 escapee spent on the loose in Auckland CBD
Newstalk ZB: Officials trying to work out movements of man who escaped isolation
1News: Man with Covid-19 facing criminal charges after escaping isolation, visiting central Auckland supermarket
Matt Burrows (Newshub): One new case of COVID-19 at managed isolation facility visited supermarket
Katarina Williams (Stuff): Why Wellington hotels aren’t hosting more Kiwi returnees
RNZ: Returning Kiwis in managed isolation: ‘There is going to be a limit’
1News: Other airlines to restrict flight capacities as quarantine facilities get ‘tight’ – Megan Woods
Herald: Emirates freezes flight bookings to NZ for next three weeks
Border, travel bubbles
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Fact check: could a trans-Tasman bubble really raise NZ’s GDP by $8.8b by Christmas?
Kate MacNamara (Stuff): The uncounted cost of New Zealand’s border trade-off
NZ’s coronavirus response
Hannah Kronast (Newshub): World Health Organization singles out New Zealand, praising COVID-19 response
Stuff: World Health Organisation praises NZ’s Covid-19 response
1News: WHO posts video praising New Zealand’s success tackling Covid-19 pandemic
Collette Devlin (Stuff): Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern urges Kiwis to use contact tracing app but her ministers silent
Harry Lock (RNZ): How Covid-19 changed travel home – and abroad – for Kiwis
Election
Zane Small (Newshub): Is this legal? Northland candidates Shane Jones, Matt King scrap over ‘Jones for Jobs’ billboards
Jason Walls (Herald): Green Ministers Julie Anne Genter and Eugenie Sage both donated $30,000 to the Green Party
Oliver Hartwich (Newsroom): A Green path to the fringe
Deena Coster (Stuff): Climate change activist breaks away from Green Party
Daisy Hudson (ODT): Politicians trade perspectives at Covid-19 response debate
Leighton Keith (Taranaki Daily News): New Plymouth councillor Chong joins New Conservative for election
Cannabis referendum
Matt Burrows (Newshub): Cannabis referendum: What is it, when is it, where each party and the public stands
Lana Andelane (Newshub): Cannabis referendum: How legal regulation of cannabis can benefit New Zealand
1News: Support for cannabis referendum up but majority still narrow – new poll
Joel MacManus (Stuff): Cannabis referendum: Poll shows yes vote leading by 5 points
Joel MacManus (Stuff): Cannabis policing ‘worst waste of taxpayer money’, former PM Helen Clark says
Vita Molyneux (Newshub): Police ‘hunting down’ casual cannabis users is ‘worst waste of taxpayer money’, says former Prime Minister Helen Clark
Derek Cheng (Herald): Marijuana not so bad for you, won’t turn your hair green
Mike Yardley (Newstalk ZB): Cannabis uncertainty is a cop-out
Water reforms
Dileepa Fonseka (Newsroom): Cash splashed for water reforms
Dominic Harris, Laura Wiltshire and Georgia-May Gilbertson (Stuff): New fund will pave way for multi-billion dollar overhaul of water sector
1News: Government offers $761m to councils to fix water issues – if they opt in to water reform
Jenée Tibshraeny (Interest): Govt dangles $761m before local authorities to get them to centralise water management
RNZ: Government announces $761 million water package upgrade
Paul McBeth (BusinessDesk): Govt offers $761m to help fund 3-waters – with strings attached (paywalled)
Christian Fuller (Hawkes Bay Today): Councils bailed out as Government gives Hawke’s Bay water hope (paywalled)
Georgia-May Gilbertson (Stuff): Casualty of Havelock North gastro crisis pleased with water funding
Environment
Jono Galuszka (Manawatū Standard): Lake Horowhenua may be exempt from new freshwater standards – David Parker says no feasible fix
Sam Kelway (1News): Mount Maunganui marae considering blocking port unless they get Government response over pollution
Leah Tebbutt (Herald): Whareroa Marae sets Govt 10-year deadline for Mount Maunganui heavy industry retreat
Andrea Vance (Stuff): For sale: one endangered kea, but beyond the border it’s completely legal
Skara Bohy (Stuff): Maitai funding of $1.7m to connect ‘mosaic’ of riparian plantings
Housing
Laura Wiltshire (Stuff): Wellington City councillor ‘disappointed’ in MP’s comments on housing proposal
Fiona Connor (Newshub): Mother of sick baby ‘scared’ for future after Kāinga Ora allocates family uninsulated house with fire hazard
Georgina Campbell (Herald): Why are quake prone buildings any different to leaky homes?
Rob Stock (Stuff): Reserve Bank considers extending home loan holiday lifeline
Rob Stock (Stuff): House prices dip across country in June, with Queenstown leading falls
Local government
Hamish McNeilly (Stuff): Marian Hobbs slams dementia rumour as Otago Regional Council drops her as chair
Newstalk ZB: Former Labour MP voted out of Otago Regional Council
Grant Miller (ODT): New chairman Noone says council must unite
Todd Niall (Stuff): Auckland Budget: Rates rise feedback leaves councillors with big call to make
Todd Niall (Stuff): Auckland Council budget: 500 more jobs could be axed in $525 million squeeze
Bernard Orsman (Herald): Auckland Council set to cut 500 more jobs
Damian George (Stuff): Shelly Bay redevelopment put forward as Government shovel-ready project
Chloe Ranford (Stuff): First pay rise in a decade ‘reflects the skills’ of council representatives
Justice
Martin van Beynen (Stuff): The Peter Ellis case and Māori customary law
Newstalk ZB: Justice system report shows very different views from minority groups
Denise Piper (Stuff): New sexual violence laws will help more victims come forward, Rape Crisis says
Catrin Owen (Stuff): Grace Millane: Family calls on New Zealand to ban ‘rough sex’ defence
Ireland Hendry-Tennent (Newshub): Grace Millane’s family call for NZ Government to follow UK’s lead and ban ‘rough sex defence’
Transport and roading
Thomas Coughlan (Stuff): NZ First blocks last part of electric cars policy as Greens fume
Olivia Wannan (Stuff): Kiwis back electric vehicle subsidies – but the devil’s in the detail
Rachel Sadler (Newshub): Todd Muller pleads for questions on $1.5b highway after interrogation over National MP Hamish Walker
1News: National says it will build Christchurch to Ashburton expressway if elected
Employment
Halaena Mckeague (Stuff): Five days sick leave? New Zealanders deserve more
Jody O’Callaghan (Stuff): Covid-19 could spell another economic downturn for Māori without action, report says
Statues
1News: Majority of Māori want statues honouring colonists to be removed – survey
Leonie Hayden (Spinoff): Idea: Put up more statues – of New Zealanders who deserve them
Media
Colin Peacock (RNZ): Mediawatch: MediaWorks boss stepping down
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): TV3 sale down to ‘one party’ says departing MediaWorks CEO
Damien Venuto (Herald): Why MediaWorks boss Michael Anderson resigned (paywalled)
Newshub: MediaWorks CEO to step down
Ports of Auckland move
Michael Neilson (Herald): Manukau Harbour proposal for Auckland port slammed over major environmental, iwi concerns
Dileepa Fonseka (Newsroom): Just another port study
Primary industries
Tim Murphy (Newsroom): A shake-up for the land and her export billions
Guy Trafford (Interest):Latest MPI aspirational document highlights yet more confusing signals for the rural sector, devoid of detail of what will be supported
Conan Young (RNZ): Govt support for fishers changing methods not enough, some say
Health
Sahiban Hyde (Hawkes Bay Today): Ashley Bloomfield pays tribute to trusted deputy Keriana Brooking as she leaves for Hawke’s Bay DHB role (paywalled)
RNZ: Government gives $14.2m for Hastings hospital redevelopment
Defence
Maxine Jacobs (Stuff): New armoured vehicle purchase replaces ageing fleet
Caley Callahan (Newshub): Government forking out over $100m for armoured vehicles
Other
Jamie Morton (Herald): 600,000 animals used for NZ science in two years
Dana Johannsen (Stuff): America’s Cup organisers need to win back the public’s trust by making changes at the top
1News: Islamic Women’s Council accuses police of ‘othering’, not taking threats against Muslims seriously before Christchurch attack
Ireland Hendry-Tennent (Newshub): American interest in moving to New Zealand jumps amid COVID-19 pandemic
Rob Stock (Stuff): Westpac Life gives unlimited premium holiday to struggling pensioner
Debrin Foxcroft (Stuff): Pretty Penny quits NZ, writes off loans in Commerce Commission settlement
1News: Australian high-cost lender quits NZ, writes off loans following Commerce Commission settlement
Tamsyn Parker (Herald): Business failures: Worst yet to come, insolvency expert predicts bleak 2021
VUW Tutors Collective (Spinoff): A plea to Victoria University from its tutors: don’t answer Covid with austerity
No Right Turn: Why are MP’s exempt from the Privacy Act?
No Right Turn: Rewriting the OIA: A transparency agenda
